ISLAMABAD: Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Wasim Junior’s brilliant performance helped Quetta Gladiators thump Lahore Qalandars by six wickets in their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9th edition match at the National Stadium in Karachi on Sunday.
Lahore won the toss and opted to bat first in the game, with Abdullah Shafique hitting an unbeaten 59 runs from 39 deliveries.
Shaheen Afridi and Sahibzada Farhan added 55 and 25 runs respectively to take Lahore to 166/4 in 20 overs. In response, Shakeel and Wasim put up a great show to guide Quetta to victory on the last ball.
“Quetta Gladiators get past the finishing line with a Saud Shakeel and Wasim Jr. special,” PSL commented on X as Quetta won the match.
Abrar Ahmed dismissed two for 31 runs, while Wasim and Mohammad Amir took one wicket each.
Chasing 167 runs to win, Shakeel scored 88 runs not out from 65 deliveries, while Khawaja Nafay and Jason Roy scored 26 and 18 runs respectively.
But it was Wasim who hit a massive six on the last ball to finish the match in style as Quetta defeated Lahore by six wickets.
Jahandad Khan and Shaheen Afridi took two wickets each.
With the thrilling win over Lahore, Quetta Gladiators have booked a berth in PSL playoffs, eliminating Karachi from the race.
Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United are the other teams who have qualified for the playoffs.
Saud, Wasim star as Quetta secure last-ball win over Lahore in PSL clash
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Saud, Wasim star as Quetta secure last-ball win over Lahore in PSL clash
- Quetta Gladiators have booked a berth in PSL playoffs, eliminating Karachi from the race
- Multan, Peshawar and Islamabad are the other teams who have qualified for the playoffs
Punjab extends Basant timings as Lahore marks festival with traditional zeal
- The festival marking the onset of spring was banned in 2008 after deaths and injuries to motorcyclists and pedestrians from stray kite strings
- Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz says the extension is a ‘reward for the people of Lahore for celebrating Basant with great discipline and for responsibly’
ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has extended timings for the Basant kite-flying festival till early Monday morning, she announced on Sunday, as people in the provincial capital of Lahore celebrated the spring festival with traditional zeal for the third consecutive day.
The Basant, a festival marking the onset of spring, was banned in 2008 after deaths and injuries to motorcyclists and pedestrians from stray kite strings — sometimes coated with metal to make them more fearsome in mid-air battles.
The government of CM Nawaz this year allowed Basant festivities in the provincial capital of Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural heart, on Feb. 6-8, but issued an extensive safety plan regarding kite materials and motorcyclists and pedestrians to avoid any untoward incident.
Extravagantly colored kites continued to duel above Lahore and residents gathered on rooftops with family, friends and visitors for the third day on Sunday as the city celebrated the lifting of an 18-year ban on the spectacular three-day kite-flying festival.
“I am pleased to announce that Basant celebrations timings are being extended till 5:00 AM tomorrow morning,” CM Nawaz said in an X post on Sunday, highlighting the festivity, unity and joy across Lahore.
“This extension is a reward for the people of Lahore for celebrating Basant with great discipline and for responsibly following all safety SOPs (standard operating procedures).”
The Punjab government banned metallic or chemical-coated strings. Kites and strings had to bear individual QR codes so they could be traced, and motorcyclists had to attach safety rods to their bikes to fend off stray thread.
Some 4,600 producers registered with the authorities to sell kites and strings ahead of the festival. Authorities had made it mandatory for owners to register rooftops with 30 or more revelers, while dozens of roofs had been declared off-limits after inspections.
“Please continue to celebrate safely, stay away from electric wires, secure your rooftops, and follow all guidelines,” Nawaz said. “Let’s make this historic Basant joyful, safe, and memorable for everyone.”
